Less hazard damage per building is expected in Union Township than in 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #97 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then tornadoes (21%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1981.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Union Township faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Union Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Union Township, and Union Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 21% (higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #97 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Union Township’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Indiana town has lower expected damage than 60% of U.S. towns; within the state, Union Township has less expected damage per building than 84% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Union Township: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Union Township flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Union Township, from FEMA’s records: 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike1 claim · $26K
Union Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Porter County.The storms Union Township remembers
None of the 12 disasters declared for Porter County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Union Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19812 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19821 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19851 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Porter County has had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Union Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Union Township archive →Union Township and its neighbors
Union Township is 2nd of the 8 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center Township | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Union Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Porter Township | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Portage Township | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Hobart | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Ross Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 86 |
| Merrillville | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 123 |
| Hobart Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 114 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Union Township faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Union Township
Is Union Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union Township has lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #97 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and tornadoes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Union Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Union Township since 1981, $80K in all, or 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (1).
Is Union Township in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Porter County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Union Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Union Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Union Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 1 paid, $26K.
Is Union Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Union Township’s rate for it is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Union Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Union Township’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.